“Trust me. It’s going to work out.”
Has anyone ever comforted you with that phrase? As a campus minister, there were many times when college students would swing by my office and share their anxiousness about graduation, an internship, or a relationship. And I’d point them toward that word trust, encouraging them to claim the promises found in God’s Word.
I’ve seen it happen time and time again. When we surrender control and begin to seek God for simply who He is, He then shows us something so different than we ever expected.
So why is it so hard to trust God when things bombard us all at once? Currently, my life is in a much different place than it’s been the past decade. I’m embracing a new career, trying to sell a house in one state and find a new home in another, and adjusting to being separated from my family for a semester while my kids finish out their school year. I’m daily having to remind myself to trust God, knowing that everything will be OK.
Do I get anxious and fearful? Absolutely. But I keep hearing those words, “Trust Me.”
It’s easy to focus on the cause of our anxiousness – unanswered questions, financial uncertainty, effects of our decisions – that we miss completely miss God showing us who He is.
This past week, a good friend pointed me to a passage of Scripture I hadn’t read in awhile. First Kings 17 tells the story of Elijah and his time in the wilderness. The Lord told Elijah to go to a remote location near the Jordan River and that the ravens would bring him food and that he could drink from the this spot in the river. So Elijah did. He trusted what the Lord said. And the ravens brought him food – over and over again. Then the Lord did something really cool. He took Elijah to a widow in a nearby city and showed them both His provision by continuing to have flour in a canister and oil in the cup so that there could be bread – fresh bread every day. Again, He said “Trust Me.”
So often, I focus so much on the lack of oil in this story that I miss out what God wants to show me. What I’ve discovered is that it’s never about the oil – that’s simply the means God uses to show me who He is. In my current situation, I’ve focused so much on the bad housing market and the importance of making sure my kids get the best education that I’ve missed God’s voice saying, “Trust Me.” But as I’ve learned time and again, when I’m obedient and trust God’s timing, power, and Word, He reveals to me what’s most important and works things for His glory.
As I think about the many college students preparing for graduation in a few weeks, I’m reminded about the single college students wondering if they’ll ever find anyone to share their life with. And they’re focusing so much on the issue of singleness that they’re missing God’s voice saying, “Trust Me.” Things may not end the way we want, but when we’re seeking Him, those things don’t seem quite as important. I’m pretty sure Elijah may have gotten tired of what the ravens brought him everyday, but the Lord provided. And Elijah was thankful.
We’ve all found ourselves in this trust situation. My prayer for you today is that you learn to trust Him more – not just in your words, but in your actions, your thoughts, and with your life. Don’t miss out on what God’s doing now because you’re focusing so much on the things blinding you from seeing Him.
Mark Whitt is the Collegiate/Young Adult Ministry Specialist for Threads. Mark graduated from Murray State University (Go Racers!) and earned his Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served on the campus ministry staff at both the University of Louisville and Virginia Tech before landing at his alma mater, Murray State University, as the campus minister with the Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM) for nearly 14 years. Mark’s heart beats a little faster when he thinks about the impact college students and young adults are making in this world. His favorite topics of conversation are his family (wife, Lisa, and kiddos, Elizabeth and Tyler), Thailand, or Racer Basketball.